Sports
IGSDA Strikes Partnership With LA Galaxy
The Independent
Grassroots Sports Development Association, IGSDA, Nigeria, has formed an alliance with America’s Major League’s, MLS, Football Club, LA Galaxy through an Abeokuta based football management and sponsorship organisation, Churchill Oliseh Agency.
According to the president and founder of IGSDA, Ambassador Miebi Ogunu in a chat on Monday, the partnership will see the grassroots association source for young talents for the feeders team of the Amercia clubside.
He lauded the new relationship and described it as a veritable platform for talented players from Nigeria to play in the United States and other countries across the globe. The President stated that IGSDA’s coaches also stand to exploit the platform by discovering new talents and traning them in line with international best practices in football.
Ogunu said, “In tandem with our vision to discover, develop and distribute talented young players for local and international consumption, IGSDA is calling for partnership with clubs and coaches within the country to extract maximum benefit from the platform”.
“So far, he continued, a handful of players discovered by IGSDA, who have fulfilled the required conditions for the LA Galaxy FC would be arriving the agency’s transitional camp in Lagos soon, where they would be given proper orientation and counselling before moving to foreign clubs.
On the association’s readiness to feeding the foreign team with talents, Ogunu said, “we have been organising local friendly matches within the 23 local government areas in Rivers State to select good players that would meet the standards of the Churchwill Oliseh Agency.
‘Our nucleus team in the state is named the Dream Team, and they have played several matches in which they posted brilliant performaces. Our last match was against scored giant FC of Rumuokwurusi which we won by a lone goal scored by Golden Eaglets invitee, Anselm Igbo”.
The president disclosed that the dream team will play Sharks FC’s Feeder Team on Friday and called on interested youngsters eager to make a career in the game to explore opportunities available within the association.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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